Cleveland public transportation??? (Euclid: sales, apartment, to buy)

[costello_musicman]

I didn't quite know where to post this, but this seemed like a good enough place!

Here's a link that calculates commuting costs out of your monthly and yearly budgets:

go Metro - Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (http://www.sorta.com/costofdriving.html - broken link)

FYI, this doesn't account for any other driving we do besides pure commuting....food for thought.

[gtsurfer05]

Originally Posted by Clevelander17

Of the cities I've been to, San Francisco's is far and away the best. NYC's and DC's are also very good. Cleveland's is decent, better than a lot of others (especially out West), but I have a hard time calling it best in the nation.

It helps alot if the city where public transportation is located in, is very compact. Hence the ease in which public transportation works in Europe. I'm quite happy with RTA in Cleveland. It's gotten me to and from Downtown plenty of times. I'd prefer if there were a high speed train that went to more of the suburbs, but I don't see that happening.

[Clevelander17]

Originally Posted by gtsurfer05

It helps alot if the city where public transportation is located in, is very compact. Hence the ease in which public transportation works in Europe. I'm quite happy with RTA in Cleveland. It's gotten me to and from Downtown plenty of times. I'd prefer if there were a high speed train that went to more of the suburbs, but I don't see that happening.

Me too. I think RTA would be so much better and effective if there were more lines running from more suburbs. I also wish there were a few north-south lines. But I am very thankful for the Shaker rapid.

[costello_musicman]

Check it out-- Google Transit! Google Transit

VIDEO: Google Maps

[costello_musicman]

FYI--if anyone wants to save half off at the zoo this summer, RTA is running a seasonal special:

Service changes and Zoo bus begin June 15
"Special seasonal service to the Metroparks Zoo, and other service changes, begin on Sunday, June 15. The #20Z takes you from Public Square to the Zoo's main entrance, and gives you 50 percent off admission."

Newsroom - News & Updates | Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority

[BelieveInCleve]

I think with gas prices so high and since a lot of people around the area dont have much money we should see a lot more people riding public transportation. Also with people who have money but just want to save some by not buying gas they will probably start riding Public Transportation too.

[costello_musicman]

^^Cle440, Here's a news story to what you're talking about:

Newsvine - Usage spike strains mass transit (http://www.newsvine.com/_video/2008/06/02/1532914-usage-spike-strains-mass-transit - broken link)

[gtsurfer05]

While this does not have to do with RTA directly, I think that America needs to take a hard look into putting major investment into its public transportation systems(ie Cities), and also the rail system in the US(ie Amtrak). As a alternative to high gas prices, public trans. systems as we all know are a good alternative, however America has been lacking in it. As an example, I'll bring up Amtrak. Its a great way to see the country, however its rail system is pathetic, and time to destinations is also deplorable. A Cleveland to Chicago train will take at minimum 6.5-7 hours, something that you can do in a car, same goes for Cleveland to Miami, 18hrs by car, and 25 by train. New lines connecting cities need to be built. As in Japan, China, and parts of Europe, the implementation of high speed trains(Maglev), would make travel by trains an actual viable solution than driving by car or even flying. These system can be also put into the cities, such as for Cleveland a direct Airport to Downtown one and various lines running from the suburbs into the city. Initial costs would be high, but I think in the long term it would be a very wise investment.

[costello_musicman]

Looks like RTA may be getting too many riders now and in the near future:

"Riders are reporting packed buses, standing room only situations where riders run blocks down the street just to catch the bus sooner and nab a seat."

"In the suburbs, like Westlake and Strongsville, the "Park N Ride" service is up about 40 percent in April. May numbers are not in yet."


WKYC.com | Cleveland, OH | RTA in crisis mode with overcrowded buses (http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_article.aspx?storyid=91359&catid=3 - broken link)

[beachedc03]

i would recommend living in an area like lakewood which is a decent suburbian area directly on a bus route or within blocks of bus routes

another thing that works well is being reasonably near the rapid lines because the ones in shaker have parking and park n ride